Carton closure device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a closure arrangement for cartons having hinged lids, such as cartons for confectionary and the like. The closure arrangement comprises a flap on the edge of the lid parallel to the hinge. The flap is scored to form a hinge along a line parallel to the attachment edge of the lid and incised to form a tongue which projects towards the lid from that part of the flap on the side of the scored hinge remote from the lid. The body of the carton is formed with an incision in an inverted U-shape which forms a tongue the end of which has a substantially semi-circular recess. The tongue on the flap of the lid can thus be readily engaged through the recess at the end of the tongue on the carton to form a cooperating engagement to hold the lid in the closed position. The tongue on the carton base flexes to hold the tongue on the lid in position.

United States Patent [191 Dogliotti [5 CARTON CLOSURE DEVICE [75] Inventor: Amilcare Dogliotti, Neive, Italy [73] Assignee: P. Ferrero C. S.p.A., Alba (Cuneo),

Italy [22] Filed: July 12, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 271,105

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [451 Aug. 6,- 1974 N Primary ExaminerWilliam I. Price Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Bernstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak 5 7] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a closure arrangement for cartons having hinged lids, such as cartons for confectionary and the like. The closure arrangement comprises a flap on the edge of the lid parallel to the hinge. The flap is scored to form a hinge along a line parallel to the attachment edge of the lid and incised to form a tongue which projects towards the lid from that part of the flap on the side of the scored hinge remote from the lid. The body of the carton is formed with an incision in an inverted U-shape which forms a tongue the end of which has a substantially semicircular recess. The tongue on the flap of the lid can thus be readily engaged through the recess at the end of the tongue on the carton to form a cooperating engagement to hold the lid in the closed position. The tongue on the carton base flexes to hold the tongue on the lid in position.

EJaimA Psawin jjsvrss CARTON CLOSURE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a closure arrangement for cartons with hinged lids, such as cartons intended to contain confectionary and like products.

In general, cartons with hinged lids are not provided with any means for holding the lid cover in a closed position since this is normally achieved by means of a covering of transparent material such as cellophane which envelops the entire carton.

In some types of boxes or cartons the side of the lid remote from the hinged side has a tongue for insertion behind the front wall or into a slot in the front wall of the carton when the lid is closed: but even with an arrangement such as this it is not possible to hold the cover closed, particularly if the contents project, even slightly, above the top of the carton. Moreover, a retaining tongue of the above type is unsuitable for repeated opening and closing of the carton as it readily deteriorates. I

I OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is one object Of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages and to provide a closure arrangement, for cartons of the abovementioned type, capable of holding the lid securely in a closed position even if the contents of the carton project slightly above the top edge thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide closure arrangements which are easy to operate and which are able to withstand repeated opening and closing of the carton without being subject to excessive deterioration due to wear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According, therefore, to the present invention there is provided a carton having a hinged lid and a closure arrangement comprising a flap projecting from one edge of the lid, the flap being divided into two parts by a hinge extending substantially parallel to the side of the lid from which the flap projects and on either side of an arcuate incision which forms a tongue on the part of the flap on the side of the hinge remote from the lid, and an incision in the front wall of the carton with which the said tongue is engageable to hold the lid in the closed position.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings which follows, and which is provided merely by way of non restriciting example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton having a hinged flap or lid, provided with a closure arrangement constructed as an embodiment of the present invention, and shown in the closed position;

FIG. 2 isv a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 shown in open position;

FIG. 3 is a transverse partial section on an enlarged scale taken on the line lII-lII of FIG. 2; and

- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENTS free, upper end a substantially semicircular recess 4.

6 FIG. 4 Is a transverse section simIlar to FIG. 3, but

showing the closure arrangement in a fully closed position.

From the free edge of the lid 2 projects downwards a substantially rectangular flap 5 which is scored along a line substantially parallel to the edge of the lid 2 from which the flap 5 projects, but with a substantially semicircular portion which is incised right through to form a tongue 6 which projects toward the lid 2, and which is integral with that part 5a of the flap 5 on the far side of the scored line from the lid 2. This tongue 6 thus moves together with the part 5a of the flap 5 so as to assume various inclinations with respect to the top part of the flap 5.

To close the carton, after lowering the lid 2 until it is adjacent the top edge of the carton l, the lower part 5a of the flap 5 is pivoted about the scored line of the flap 5 so as to move the tongue 6 to a substantially horizontal position as shown in FIG. 3; In this position the tongue 6 is adjacent the incised tongue position 3 of the front wall 1a of the carton and in such a position that it can engage in the recess 4 of the tongue 3, and project into the inside of the carton 1. Consequently the tongue 3 flexes slightly towards the inside of the carton and the tongue 6 engages under the top edge of the opening formed by the incision surrounding the tongue 3. The tongue 6 and the hinged part 5a of the flap 5 subsequently adopt the positions shown in FIG. 4, thereby providing a secure engagement of the lid 2 with respect to the carton 1.

To reopen the carton it is necessary manually to move the tongue 6 by means of the lower part 5a of the flap so as to release it from the coupling in which it is fixed.

The arrangement described above prevents accidental opening of the carton even in the case in which there might be some tendency to open due to the contents projecting above the top of the container.

The operation of opening and reclosing may be effected many times without the cooperating parts being damaged, even if the carton is made of very light material. Moreover, the arrangement is simple and economical to produce since the various parts can be made without difficulty by appropriate preparation of the board or other material of which the carton is made.

What is claimed is: 1. A carton having a hinged lid and closure means holding said lid in a closed position, said closure means comprising,

aflap on the edge of said lid parallel to the hinge line thereof, said flap being separated into a first part and a second part by a hinge formed thereacross, said first part being on the far side of said hinge of said flap from said lid,

a tongue formed on said first part by an arcuate incision through said flap intermediate along the length of said hinge of said flap,

substantially rectangular inverted U-shape forming an upright tongue having a free end, said tongue having an arcuate recess at the free end thereof to facilitate entry of the tongue on said flap of said lid into said incision. 

1. A carton having a hinged lid and closure means holding said lid in a closed position, said closure means comprising, a flap on the edge of said lid parallel to the hinge line thereof, said flap being separated into a first part and a second part by a hinge formed thereacross, said first part being on the far side of said hinge of said flap from said lid, a tongue formed on said first part by an arcuate incision through said flap intermediate along the length of said hinge of said flap, an incision on the front wall of said carton, said incision forming engagement means for said tongue of said flap whereby said lid is held in said closed position when said tongue of said flap is engaged in said engagement means, said incision on the front wall of said carton being a substantially rectangular inverted U-shape forming an upright tongue having a free end, said tongue having an arCuate recess at the free end thereof to facilitate entry of the tongue on said flap of said lid into said incision. 